Dear neighbors,
It has been a busy week at the Capitol! I wanted to update you on a bill that I’ve been working on to ensure fairness and accountability for scheduling in the workplace that will be included in DFL legislation that is called the “Working Parents Act”. Below you will find information about the Working Parents Act, information regarding an award I was honored to receive from the Voices for Racial Justice Coalition, and information about the town hall I will be hosting on February 28th, 2015 from 10:30 am-12:00 pm at Kings Crossing Community Room (500 Dale Street N, St. Paul, MN 55103).
Working Parents Act –
The Working Parents Act responds to the real challenges facing working families and all Minnesotans in an economy that is tilted against them. Minnesota’s economy is growing, but many Minnesotans, especially communities of color, are still struggling to get ahead. The number of dual-income families and single working parents has grown significantly in our state. We need workplace policies that reflect the challenges facing working people trying to get ahead.
The Working Parents Act includes five legislative proposals:
Earned Sick and Safe Time: Over 1 million working Minnesotans lack access to paid sick time. The Working Parents Act would guarantee Minnesota workers have access to earned sick and safe time to care for themselves, a sick child, or a loved one, or to seek services due to domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault.
Paid Family Leave: Only 13% of Minnesotans have access to paid family leave, meaning workers are often forced to choose between their families and their jobs. The Working Parents Act would create an insurance program to provide all Minnesota employees with a percentage of their wages for up to 6 weeks so they can afford to take time off to bond with a new child, care for an elder or seriously-ill family member, or deal with pregnancy-related health concerns.
Putting a Stop to Wage Theft: Wage theft occurs when workers who are denied overtime pay, refused pay for hours worked, or paid less than the minimum wage. The Working Parents Act would crack down on wage theft by increasing penalties for wage theft, extending the statute of limitations on all wage theft to 6 years, and protecting workers from employer retaliation.
Scheduling Fairness and Flexibility: I’m the chief author of this portion of the bill. Many Minnesota workers lack a predictable work schedule which can affect economic security and stability for families. The Fair Scheduling Act would ensure more predictability in scheduling for workers, limit last-minute or on-call shifts, and protect workers from employer retaliation so that hourly employees can rely on stable, predictable income from week to week.
Speaking to press last week about the Fair Scheduling Act, with workers who suffer unfair scheduling practices at their jobs.
Tip Fairness for Servers: Several Minnesota restaurants in recent years have deducted the cost of credit and debit card transaction fees from servers’ tips. The Working Parents Act would prohibit businesses from deducting credit card processing fees from tips that are earned by servers and make sure that tips given by a customer go into the pockets of hardworking Minnesotans.
These measures will face strong opposition from big corporations, but they will make a real difference in the lives of hardworking Minnesotans who are working to provide for themselves and their families. I’m hopeful that we can make progress on these issues this year to help.
Voices of Racial Justice “Champion for Racial Equality”
Last week, I was honored to receive the “Champion of Racial Equality Award” from a statewide coalition of advocates for racial equity at the Racial Justice Rally held at the Capitol.
Receiving the award from Vina Kay, the Executive Director of Voices for Racial Justice.
Every year, the Voices of Racial Justice coalition releases their legislative report card on racial equity. They grade each member of the legislature based on bills that have the potential to impact racial disparities positively or negatively. Legislators were graded based on their votes and leadership on racial equity.
Town Hall - February 28th, 2015
Please see the attached flier for more information on a town hall I will be hosting with Senator Sandy Pappas. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about what is happening at the legislature or to voice your concerns about the issues that are important to you.
What: Town Hall with Rep. Rena Moran and Sen. Sandy Pappas
Where: Kings Crossing Community Center (500 Dale Street North, St. Paul MN 55103)
When: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, Saturday, February 28th, 2015
I encourage you to contact me on any legislative issue. During the legislative session, my office in St. Paul can be reached by email at Rep.Rena.Moran@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-5158.
Together we are stronger.
Sincerely,
Rena Moran
State Representative